Luxe Moments

Memories from recent programs and events.

Conversations with Leaders in Luxury–Featuring Fred Reid, President, Flexjet

March 30th, 2011

We continued our compelling series of “Conversations with Leaders in Luxury” with an in-depth interview of Fred Reid, President of Flexjet, the nation’s premier private jet services provider. The Flexjet stable of aircraft includes the renowned Challenger and Learjet brands

Hosted by Ferrari/Maserati of San Francisco

More than 550 members and guests attended “Live With Jeff Lewis — A Conversation With the Star of Flipping Out, Bravo’s Hit Docu-Series”

February 2, 2011

“Idiosyncratic”, “obsessive-compulsive” and “controlling” are just a few of the descriptions applied to Jeff Lewis, the ever-popular star of Bravo TV’s Flipping Out, now in its fourth season. But there can be no doubt of the considerable design talent and business skill of this flipper-turned-designer who commands national attention and the patronage of residential and commercial clients throughout the U. S.

Jeff’s popularity continues to grow. He was tapped by House Beautiful to design their 2010 Kitchen of the Year. His television audience is increasing by leaps and bounds. And his legions of devoted fans include upscale acolytes, real estate professionals, and interior designers.

In a Charlie Rose-type conversation with skilled interviewer Alf Nucifora,Chairman of The Luxury Marketing Council, Jeff discussed his current work in interior design, his past and current real estate development ventures and the behind-the-scenes machinations of his dysfunctional “household”, housekeeper and pets included. Never one to hold back, Jeff responded to probing questions with the candor, passion and fearlessness that are the hallmarks of both his personality and design philosophy.

An Evening with The Iconic Women of Wine

August 25, 2010

Conversations with three of the Valley’s most respected and knowledgeable women responsible for making Napay what it is today…

• Margaret Duckhorn
• Margrit Mondavi
• Janet Trefethen

The evening commenced with information, wine and hor d’oeuvres allowing old friends and new to meet and mingle, followed by a facilitated panel conversation in which the participants shared their personal and professional recollections, opinions and historical perspectives about Napa Valley and its wine industry as it grew to the point of pre-eminence that it holds today.

Hosted by Robert Mondavi Winery

The Concierge…A Study in Power and Influence

June 2, 2010

A panel comprised of the “best and brightest” concierges from the Monterey Peninsula’s elite hotel properties addressed the following questions:

• How do the concierge staff at Monterey Peninsula’s leading luxury hotels make recommendations with respect to dining, entertainment, retail purchases, personal services, venues, experiences, etc?
• How do they develop their information-base and stay current with what the marketplace has to offer?
• What’s the effective way for marketers to get their products and services seen, noticed and recommended by concierges?
• What do customers and guests expect from the concierge? What do they seek? What are their hot-button requests?

Hosted by The Grill, Pasadera Country Club

3rd Annual Steinway Piano Tasting

June 10th, 2010

Back by popular demand…

The 3rd Annual Steinway Piano Tasting, an exclusive event featuring luxurious stimuli for the mind, ear and palate. With the aid of concert pianist and Steinway Artist Helene Wickett members & guests compared the unique “personalities” of six Steinway pianos from upright to concert grand, while pairing each with an appropriately sumptuous choice from a portfolio of Rubicon Estate wines. Selections from Cathay Pacific’s highly-acclaimed in-flight cuisine, rounded out the experience.

The incomparable melding of concert artistry, the world’s finest pianos and Napa’s premier wines, made this an evening of rare emotional connection. It was the quintessential symphony for our senses.

Hosted by Sherman, Clay & Co.

Taking Flight in Sonoma…A celebration of Wine and Wing

April 17, 2010

Members of The Luxury Marketing Council and the Ferrari Club of America toured Flexjet’s legendary Challenger 300* and Learjet 40XR* business aircraft provided by Flexjet while also savoring the remarkable wines of J Vineyards & Winery.

Artisan offerings included Dilek Sezen Fine Art Jewelry, the Sandra Jordan Collection, nationally-acclaimed wine country artist Ann Rea and bespoke custom clothier Zuckerman & Associates.

* Unregistered or registered trademark (s) of Bombardier, Inc or its subsidiaries

Hosted by the Sonoma Jet Center

Who Said You Can’t Sell Luxury Real Estate Online … Success Stories from Those Who Can and Do

The 4th Annual Alpha Agents Seminar

April 22, 2010

For the vast majority of real estate agents, 2009 was a year of fear, anguish and horror. Irrespective of experience, past performance or talent, everyone felt the pain. And yet, a handful not only survived, they prospered. How did they do it?

This year’s Alpha Agent seminar ignored the traditional sales and marketing techniques and instead focuses on the use of new and powerful on-line marketing techniques in the real estate industry with particular emphasis on the application of Social Media.  A panel of seasoned and successful practitioners shared their secrets and provided chapter and verse on the tips, tools and techniques that generate leads, listings and sales from the Internet and World-Wide Web.

Hosted by One Hawthorne Luxury Condominiums

Wealth and Luxury in Transition
Latest Findings from the Annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America

February 24, 2010

Experts at the leading marketing consultancy, Harrison Group, shared the latest insights from the industry-leading Annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, produced by Harrison Group and American Express Publishing (Departures, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure magazines). In this compelling and informative presentation, they:

• Explored the toll that the continuing downturn has had on the lives and livelihoods of even the wealthiest Americans, with a particular focus on implications for merchants and marketers
• Discussed selling luxury to today’s resourceful, value-oriented consumer
• Offered projections on how and when spending may return to pre-recession levels

Hosted by Gaul Searson Showroom

Targeting the Affluent One-by-One … All 71 Million of Them

March 25, 2010 (Carmel)

There exist, within the U.S., 71 million consumers who can rightly be designated as “affluent”. That’s the good news. The more important issue is how do we identify, target and communicate with those individuals and niches that are most appropriate for our brand…and do it on a cost-efficient basis?

Welcome to Pri-Stat, a database and CRM protocol that has the potential to revolutionize the way luxury brands up-sell and cross-sell to win a greater share of wallet of their  “best customers”, by store, by region, by locality, even by SKU, and capture more prospective customers just like them, whether it’s in-store, via catalog or on-line.  Most importantly, Pri-Stat is quantifiable and measurable and hands marketers the rare power to identify, test and define the most successful marketing initiatives on a pilot basis and then roll them out segment-by-segment, customer-by-customer and prospect-by-prospect.

Hosted by The Carmel Mission Inn

Everything You Wanted to Know About Wine but Were Too Afraid to Ask

September 30, 2009

Many of us have more than a passing interest in wine. We’re more than quaffers, but still essentially novices when it comes to the nuances of taste, varietal distinction and food pairing, not to mention the complexities of production, distribution and storage. We crave information, not to the extent that we aspire to be Master Sommeliers, but certainly more than the summary learning that one receives from the tasting room experience.

This year, The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco conducts a program devoted specifically to wine, but one that represented a radical departure from the regular meeting and event format, with individual presentations  made by experienced winemakers and wine educators from leading Napa and Sonoma wineries and estates.

Hosted by The City Club of San Francisco

Photography by Jay Cellini (415-386-3130)

Discount or Die?

To Discount or not to Discount—Pros, Cons and Other Strategies

August 26, 2009

Since October of 2008, in what most are calling the deepest recession since the great Depression, a rash of radical discounting initiatives by a number of major luxury players has caused considerable controversy.

To discount or not to discount…that’s the question. And it leads to a series of important marketing implications which ultimately affect the long-term viability and sustainability of the brand. A distinguished panel of experienced luxury retailers, consultants and industry veterans met with council members to discuss pros, cons and other strategies.

Hosted by Soma Grand Lifestyle Condos

Photography by Jay Cellini (415-386-3130)

The 2nd Annual Steinway Piano Tasting

June 10, 2009

An exclusive event featuring luxurious stimuli for the mind, ear and palate. With the aid of concert pianist and Steinway Artist Stephen Swedish, we compared the unique “personalities” of six Steinway pianos from upright to concert grand, while pairing each with an appropriately sumptuous choice from a portfolio of Rubicon Estate wines. Selections from Cathay Pacific’s highly-acclaimed in-flight cuisine, rounded out the experience.

The incomparable melding of concert artistry, the world’s finest pianos and Napa’s premier wines, made this an evening of rare emotional connection that last year brought tears of pleasure to the eyes. It’s the quintessential symphony for your senses.

Hosted by Sherman, Clay & Co.

Photography by Jay Cellini (415-386-3130)

Luxe Goes Sensual

May 26, 2009

Sex is big business. An industry traditionally branded by seedy surrounds, furtive gestures and avoided eyes has now gone mainstream. And if sex and sensuality sell, the luxury versions are selling at a faster-growing and more profitable rate.

A panel of experts, all of whom are at the forefront in the marketing of high-end sensual products and services discussed the changing mores and buying behavior of the affluent American consumer when it comes to matters sensual, and delivers insight into the marketing of intensely-personal products and services for which traditional strategies are not always appropriate or effective.

Hosted by Teatro Zinzanni with a special appearance by Zinzanni artists

Photography by Jay Cellini (415-386-3130)

Retail and Hospitality Gone Wild

April 22, 2009

Once upon a time in the world of retail and consumer marketing, Made in the USA meant the cutting edge. All the best practices in consumer promotion and branding originated in the good old U.S of A. But not any longer.

Back by popular demand, global research expert and trend spotter, Lucy Johnston took us on a journey through some of the most imaginative and creative practices in retail and consumer branding, promotion, packaging, design and merchandising. Backed up with incisive and passionate commentary, Lucy presented a vivid video portfolio of all that she sees in her 52 weeks on the road, recording the most innovative trends and practices in the worlds of retail and hospitality as practiced around the globe.

Hosted by the Campton Place Hotel

Photography by M. Christine Torrington Photography www.sfphotopro.com

The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco presented Faces, a showing of selected works by Gregory J. Furman.

April 3, 2009

Hosted by Candace Barnes Antiques

Photography by Debbie Norton Nucifora

Conversations With Leaders in Luxury … Eleanor Coppola

April 23, 2009

The first family of American cinema is now a pre-eminent family of luxury lifestyle. From films to wines to luxury resorts, “Coppola” is not just a family name, but a global lifestyle brand that continues to grow in rank, authority and appeal.

Eleanor Coppola, family matriarch and mediator, artist, author and Renaissance woman, permitted us a rare entree into the Coppola family. In this intimate interview, she traced the history of the Coppola brand, explained its intense bond to family, and provided a tantalizing glimpse into its evolving future.

Hosted by Gumps

Photography by Jay Cellini (415-386-3130)

Alpha Agent Seminar: “San Francisco Bay Real Estate…Where is it Headed?”

May 21, 2009

In this unique, view-from-the-top discussion, the heads of seven leading Bay Area real estate firms, respected industry leaders who, more than anyone else, are finely attuned to the vagaries, challenges and opportunities of the current marketplace, delivered hard-hitting opinion, candid assessment and insight about Bay Area real estate and where it’s headed.

The event was held at One Rincon Hill and featured:

Photography by Jay Cellini (415-386-3130)

Malcolm Kaufman (McGuire Real Estate) Ann Dykstra (One Rincon Hill) & James Winans (McGuire Real Estate)

The team from JAQK Cellars

Paul Zeger (Pacific Marketing Associates) welcomes members and guests

Charles Moore (McGuire Real Estate) shares insights and keen market observations as Avram Goldman (Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate) and Noreen Smith (Frank Howard Allen) Realtors listen intently